Water ski towing assembly



July 12, 1960 J. P. BEAL 2,944,507

WATER SKI TOWING ASSEMBLY Filed March 24, 1958 5g "1 U 32 INVENTOR.

(Jo/m Pen" fiea/ ATTORN 2,944,507 WATER SKI Townes ASSEMBLY John Perry Real, 1316 th St, Great Bend, Kans. Filed Mar. 24,1958, Ser. No. 723,408 7 claims. or 114-235 This invention relates to boating equipment and more particularly to, a water ski pole assemblyadapted to be mounted on the stern transom of a small boat in a manner to prevent a tow line from becoming entangled in the power operated propeller at the stern of the boat and, also, to maintain the outer end of the tow line ata safe distance from such propeller at all times.

Water skiing has become extremely popular in recent years, especially since the development of relatively high horsepower outboard power plants adapted to be mounted exteriorly of the boat on the relatively flat transom forming. the stern of the boat. It can be appreciated that there is a relatively high degree of danger involved in towing a skier behind a boat having an outboard motor because of the fact that many times the tow line becomes entangled in the engine drive shaft enclosure or the propeller of the motor, or, the skier must be relatively close to the boat in an area in close proximity to the propeller of the engine in order to receive the tow line from other persons positioned within the boat;

It is, therefore, theprimary object of this invention to provide a water ski pol'e assembly adapted to be mounted on the rear transom (if a small boatin a manner so that the outer end of a tow line adapted for pulling a skier is maintained in safely spaced relationship to the engine propeller disposed at the rear 'of the boat.

. Also an important object of the present invention is to provide a ski pole assembly as described which includes an elongated tubular element suitably mounted on the transom of the boat, extending rearwardly therefrom and receiving the tow line adapted for pulling'a skier so that such line is always maintained in spaced relationship to the propeller of the boat.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide an assembly wherein the tubular element reciprocably or slidably receives the tow line so that the effective length of such line extending from the outer end of the tubular element may be selectively varied by a person positioned within the boat;

An additional important aim is to provide a water ski pole-assembly wherein is included a substantially 'U-shaped frame adapted to be secured to and extend rearwardly from the transom by suitable clamp means, and wherein the tubular element slid'ably receiving the tow line is pivotally attached to the frame so that when the boat makes a turn, the tubular element pivots with respect to the frame and thereby eliminates strain on the element normally extending rearwardly from the boat.

Other important objects of the instant invention relate to the provision of a water ski pole assembly as referred to above wherein the tubular element is removably attached to the frame so that the assembly may be readily dismounted for storage purposes; to the provisionfof an assembly wherein the frame is U-shaped so that theses-1e is particularly adapted to be disposed in clearing relationship to an outboard motor "mounted on the stern transom of the boat, and wherein treasurer-nearest "is niountedon the 'bi' ght portion "of "the frainaso that the ice effective point of attachment of the tow line to the boat remains in a substantially central position relative to the transom; to the provision of guide means on the frame slidably receiving the tow line and positioned adjacent a point of attachment of the frame to the transom so that entanglement of the tow line with the motor is prevented under all circumstances; to the provision of a coil spring pivotally connecting the tubular element with the frame so that such tubular element may be pivoted in all directions, as necessary; and to other lesser, important objects and details of construction which will become obvious or be more fully explained as the following specification progresses.

1nt-he" drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary, perspective view of a water ski pole assembly embodying the concepts of the present invention and showing the same mounted in place on the rear transom of a small boat having an outboard motor secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of a part of the ski pole assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the same removed from the boat; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, crossseetional view showing the coil spring and means of attaching the same to the frame, as well as structure for attaching the tow line receiving, tubular element to the spring.

' Briefly, the present water ski pole assembly includes a substantially U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on the stern transom of a small boat in rearwardly extending relationship thereto, and an elongated tubular elem'ent pivotally mounted on the bight portion of the frame and normally extending rearwardly therefrom, for maintaining a tow line threaded through the tubular element in spaced relationship to the drive shaft enclosure and propeller of an outboard motor or other type of power operated propeller assembly positioned at the stern of the boat. The tow line extends from within the boat, through the tubular element to a position in safely spaced relationship to the propeller of the boat so that danger of the line becoming entangled in the propeller is elimihated and furthermore, serving to eliminate the necessity of a skier coming into close proximity to the power plant of the boat in order to receive the tow line.

A water ski pole assembly broadly numerated 10 is illustrated in the drawing as being positioned on the stern transom 12 of a small boat 14 having an outboard motor 16 mounted centrally on transom 12 and positioned rearwardly of the same with respect to boat 14. As indicated in Fig. 1, the drive shaft enclosure 18 of motor 16 extends downwardly from transom 12 so that the propeller (not shown.) thereon faces rearwardly of boat 14.

Assembly 10 includes a substantially U-shaped frame broadly numerated 20 and provided with a pair of elongated legs 22 and 2e interconnected at their normally outermost ends by a 'bight portion 26, it being noted in Figs. 1 and 2 that legs 22 and 24 converge inwardly as bight portion 26 is approached. Means for attaching frame 20 to transom 12 includes a substantially U-shaped clamp generally designated 28 and attached to the outermost ends of respective legs 22"and 24 remote from bight portion Each clamp 28 has a pair of normally upright, parallel leg portions 39 and 32 interconnected by a light 34. As clearly indicated in .Fig. 2, triangular asses 36 are attached to respective "legsA22 of frame '20 and'le'g portions of clamp 28.. *Members 38 threaded iii-to leg portions 32 of each of the clamps 28permit A rectangular car 40 secured to bight portion 26 of frame 20 and disposed in a normally upright position serves as means for releasably mounting an elongated, relatively lightweight tubular element or tube 42in a manner to be hereinafter described. Means for pivotally mounting the normally inner end 44 of tube 42 on ear 40 includes an elongated coil spring 46 having substantially cylindrical end portions 48 and 50 and an intermediate, relatively ellipsoidal section 52 having a substantially greater transverse diameter than cylindrical portions 48 and 50. Coil spring 46 is releasably attached to ear 40 by virtue of a cap screw 54 provided with an annular flange 56 of greater diameter than perforation 58 in ear 40, disposed on the inner face of ear 40 and having an integral boss portion 60 extending through perforation 58. Cap screw 54 has an elongated tow line receiving bore 62 therethrough, and boss 60 is externally threaded in a manner to receive an annual fitting 64, it being noted that fitting 64 has an internal passage 66 threaded in a manner to complementally engage the externally threaded portion of boss 60. Cylindrical portion 48 of coil spring 46 is telescoped over fitting 64 as indicated in Fig. 3 and may be rigidly secured to the same in any suitable manner.

Another fitting 68 is provided at the opposite end of spring 46 and includes a boss 70 telescoped within cylindrical portion 50 of spring 46 and provided with an annular flange 72 of substantially greater transverse width than boss 70. Fitting 68 has an internal bore 74 which is threaded adjacent flange 72 thereof in a manner to receive atubing fitting 76, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The normally outermost end 78 of tubing fitting 76 is externally threaded to complementally receive a sleeve 80 and it is to be noted that the end 78 of tubing fitting 76 is substantially frusto-conical in configuration to receive the flared end 44 of tube 42. Fitting 76 has an elongated passage 82 therethrough coaxially aligned with bore 74 and tube 42, and it can thus be seen that tube 42 may be readily removed from fitting 76 by merely unscrewing sleeve 80 from end 78 of fitting 76.

An elongated ski line 84 of polyethylene filament is threaded through cap screw 54, fitting 64, spring 46, fitting 68, tubing fitting 7 6, and tube 42 and extends outwardly from the latter as well as from cap screw 54. The normally innermost end of line 84 is positioned within boat 14 and passes through a tubular guide 86 rigidly attached to the uppermost end of a rod 88 secured to bight 34 of one of the clamps 28. The outermost end of ski line 84 extends outwardly from end 90 of tube 42 and has a tow bar 92 attached thereto in a suitable manner, it being noted that ski line 84 is knotted as at 94 to prevent the entire length of the outer end of line 84 from being pulled into end 90 of tube 42.

Although ear 40 could be positioned on bight portion 26 of frame 20 in a central position, it is oftentimes desirable to dispose ear 40 adjacent the point of merger of bight portion 26 with one of the legs 22 so that a secondary, substantially U-shaped tow member 96 may be secured to bight portion 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this manner, another ski line may be attached to member 96 if desired when pulling a number of skiers behind boat 14.

The manner in which water ski pole assembly is utilized is readily apparent from the description hereinabove but it is to be pointed out that frame 20 is normally clamped to transom 12 with drive shaft enclosure 18 of motor 16 disposed centrally between legs 22 and 24 and with tube 42 extending rearwardly from boat'14 in substantial parallelism with the water. 84 is threaded through tube 42, spring 46 and the associated structure for securing tube 42 to spring 46 and, in turn, the latter to ear 40, and then line 84 is passed through guide sleeve 86 so that a person within boat 14 may vary the effective length of line 84 extending outwardly from the outer end 90 of tube 42.

Assuming that the boat is in the water and it is de- The tow line 4 sired to pull a skier behind the same, ski line 84 is pulled into the boat until tow bar 92 attached to line 84 is substantially in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this manner, a skier may readily grasp tow bar 92, since the same is positioned in close proximity to the water and there is no danger of the skier being injured by the propeller of motor 16 or of line 84 becoming entangled in such propeller. Thus, as the speed of motor 16 is increased to tow the skier behind boat 14, the person Within boat 14 controlling the length of line 84 may let the same out so that the skier is pulled behind boat 14 at the desired distance. If the skier should accidentally lose his balance and release the tow bar 92, it can be seen that the person within boat 14 may quickly pull line 42 into the boat until tow bar 92 is substantially in the position referred to above and illustrated in Fig. 1 so that, when the boat 14 is brought around again to the place where the skier has fallen into the water, such skier may grasp tow bar 92 without in any manner being endangered by the propeller of motor 16. Furthermore, maintenance of the outer end of tow line 84 in safely spaced relationship to motor 16 prevents line 84 from becoming entangled in the propeller or drive shaft enclosure 18 of motor 16 when the skier accidentally falls into the water and releases .tow bar 92 so that line 84 also falls into the water.

Another important feature of the present invention is the fact that sleeve 86 guides line 84 around the upper part of motor 16 and permits the latter to be moved freely without in any manner interfering with line 84. The tube 42 may readily be removed from spring 46 by merely unscrewing sleeve from tubing fitting 76 and thus, storage and mounting and removal of assembly 10 from transom 12 is facilitated. It can also be recognized that when it is not desired to pull a skier behind boat 14, tube 42 may be removed and placed within the boat, and frame 20 in no manner interferes with operation of motor 16.

Spring 46 between ear 40 and tube 42 permits the latter to swing in any direction during use of assembly 10 and therefore, it can be seen that when boat 14 is turned, tube 42 remains in linear alignment with line 84 and thus, all strain on tube 42 is eliminated during turning of the boat. In this manner, the entire assembly may be made of relatively lightweight materials, such as aluminum, which are not subject to corrosion and may be manufactured at a low unit cost.

It can be appreciated that in lieu of the tow member 96 attached to bight portion 26 of frame 20, another tube 42 and spring 46 may be attached to frame 20. It is obvious that many modifications such as this may be made to the present invention, and the effective length of tube 42 may be varied to suit individual circumstances.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A water ski towing assembly for boats having a power operated propeller at the stern thereof, said assembly comprising a frame mounted on the stern transom of said boat; an elongated tubular element; means pivotally mounting one end of the element on the frame with the opposite end thereof normally extending rearwardly from the boat and terminating in horizontally spaced relationship to said stern transom of the boat and thereby the propeller; and an elongated tow line reciprocably threadedthrough said element and extending from said outer end of the same whereby the outer end of the line is maintained in safely spaced relationship to said propeller, said mounting means having a passage formed therethrough, the inner end of the line passing through said passage and being disposed Within the boat whereby the effective length of line extending from said outer end of the tubular element may be selectively varied from within the boat.

2. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally mounting the tubular element on the frame includes an elongated coil spring, one

longitudinal length thereof extending outwardly therefrom and said one end of the element being connected to the opposite end of said spring.

3. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one end of the tubular element is removably connected to the spring.

4. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one end of the spring is removably connected to the frame.

5. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame is substantially U-shaped in configuration and includes a pair of spaced legs and a bight portion interconnecting corresponding ends of the legs, there being clamp means on the opposite extremities of the legs for clamping the frame to said transom with said bight portion being disposed in rearwardly spaced relationship to the transom and thereby the boat.

6. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein is provided upstanding ear means on said bight portion, said one end of the spring being releasably atatched to said ear means.

7. A water ski towing assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein is provided tubular guide means on one of the legs adjacent the clamp means thereon and slidably receiving the tow line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,215,292 Koscierzyna Sept. 17, 1940 2,238,258 Flocker Apr. 15, 1941 2,431,164- Borgette Nov. 18, 1947 2,816,310 Nale Dec. 17, 1957 

